Following Bob423

Bob423 is a sailor who has a blog about his travels along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). He runs his sailboat Fleetwing, a Beneteau 42, from Miami to Norfolk Virgina each spring, logging this popular route, which he then makes available to anyone with access to the internet. His data is the most current of any source we are aware of. We trust Bob!

 Bob's Blog: bobicw.blogspot.com

Bob explores water depths. He moves back and forth along the ICW looking for the deepest pockets of water at mean low tide. Fleetwing has a deep keel like Mystic. If Bob says we should go outside the channel to find depths, we do it!

Dave has been following the bob423 blog for some time now. When we met our new friends Steve and Debbie aboard Delphinea they told us about the app Aqua Maps. For only $20.00, Dave installed Aqua Maps on his phone. Then with one click, he was able to download Bob's path, putting it, literally, at his fingertips!

Each day, we keep Aqua Maps open as we travel. We have it strapped to our boom crutch so it sits right in front of our face. Using our paper charts along with Aqua Maps showing Bob's trail keeps us in safe depths. Occasionally, I notice low numbers on the depth finder. I ask, "Are you on Bob's blue line?" The answer is always, "Yes, I am, right down the middle following Bob!" Many times, we actually follow Bob right to his anchorage and stay where Bob stayed.

Aqua Maps with Bob's blue line and
warnings entered by either Bob or
Waterway Guide contributors

Bob has guided us through some scary shallow spots. A lot of cruisers owe him a huge thank you as well as, maybe, dinner. We recently learned that Bob spends his winters in Titusville. We just missed him while we were docked there in May. We'd love to meet him one day!

Bob Sherer navigating the ICW
Photo by Waterway Guide